Rockin Nola, the standout older pacing mare from the Joe Putnam Stable, scored her fourth straight win Saturday, Sept. 26 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Rockin Image four-year-old picked up her latest win in the $32,000 Go on BB Fillies and Mares Invitational during a night that was a continuation of top talent in the state.
Rockin Nola and Joey Putnam earned their fourth straight win Saturday, Sept. 26 in the Go On BB Fillies and Mares Invitational at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Starting from the outside post seven, driver Joey Putnam was patient with Rockin Nola, sliding over to the rail and following along as Checks on the Way and John DeLong established the pace of :27.0, :55.3, and 1:23.2. Rockin Nola was out and moving, ready for the stretch drive. She closed in gamely on the outside, turning in a final panel in :26.3 for the win in 1:51.0. Checks on the Way finished second while Bettor’s Up and LeWayne Miller rounded out the trifecta.
Owned by JP Racing LLC and Suttons Bay Racing, Rockin Nola has 18 career wins in 39 career starts. She is seven for 12 this season and equaled her career best time of 1:49.4 earlier this year. She is now over the $500,000 career earnings mark and was bred by Mahlon Lambright of Shipshewana, Ind.
It was one of two wins on the card for Joey Putnam, who also connected with Grace Rocks in a division of Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers. The Rockin Image filly turned in a gate to wire performance for the win in 1:49.4, flashing up a :26.4 final quarter. Somebodyslilly and Michael Oosting finished second followed by Genie Rockwell and James Yoder for third.
Owned by Howard Taylor, Grace Rocks paid $5.80, $2.80, $2.20 across the board. She is trained by Britney Dillon and now has three wins in nine starts this season. It was the second straight win for Grace Rocks and the third in her last four starts.